WEST MICHIGAN:
New Zeland Legacy
A Sanctuary of Rustic Architecture
By Karen VANDER Werp
After becoming engaged in Africa and honeymooning in New Zealand it was impossible to leave the simple, rustic, outdoor lifestyle behind. After contemplating an assortment of words describing outdoor dwellings, Chris and Louise titled their Fennville vacation home “Batch.” They learned this word while vacationing in New Zealand and found it to be a perfect name for their unique home.
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SW MICHIGAN:
Cozy Cottage Living Turns Year-Round
An Ideal Location, Setting and Home for Entertaining
By Karen Vander Werp
The owners of this Austin Lake home had been looking for an amply sized lot to enjoy waterfront living. It seemed that their dream would not become a reality until a family member tipped them off to a small cottage that was for sale on a lot with 135 feet of lake frontage. A quick tour of the lot and cottage showed that the purchase would fit their needs nicely, so the soon-to-be new owners signed on the dotted line and didn’t look back. “We lived there for five months out of the year for the next three years, then tore it down and built our existing residence.” explains the lady of the house.
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GRAND TRAVERSE:
Living In The Light
“Home and cottage — two words most suggestive of comfort in the English language...”
By Elizabeth Booth O’Toole
Whether you realize it or not, the homes you remember most are those built in harmony with their surroundings. Few builder/architect duos can pull it off but with this vibrant waterside cottage built by Easling Construction Company, it positively sings. Having an accomplished artist as the homeowner certainly helps too. Her canvases cover most walls and are so rich, so brilliant, and so vibrant, they almost have a pulse of their own. These same colors leap off the paintings and repeat throughout; in rugs, tiles, accent walls and throws, all synchronizing to perfectly mirror the intensity of the summer hues just outside the door.
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NORTHERN MICHIGAN:
Three Bear Lodge
A Classic Story Woven in Rustic Grandeur
By Elizabeth Booth O’Toole
When surrounded by woods, hills, lakes and the wildlife of Northern Michigan, the next logical step—and the ultimate dream for thousands—is to build a log home. For Michael Belanger and family, this dream became a reality and the resulting structure embodies both rustic warmth and five-star living.
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MID MICHIGAN:
Roots Inspire International Flair
The Overall Design Is Restrained and Simple in Comparison to its Ostentatious European Cousins
By Karen Vander Werp
People have roots. It is through their roots that passions and appreciation are cultivated. Rehan and Shireen returned to their roots in their homeland of Pakistan in order to make a difference. Opening two cardiac centers, one in Pakistan, and another in Dubai, gave the couple the opportunity to determine what type of home they wanted to have when they took up residence in the United States. It was these six years abroad that influenced their Freeland home with international flare. “Part of our inspiration was to build something like the houses we had inhabited abroad,” shares Shireen. “That’s why this home looks a bit different than most American homes.”
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